Device for rejuvenating golf balls



Nov. 9, 1965 s. GLASER 3,216,058

DEVICE FOR REJUVENATING GOLF BALLS Filed June 13, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. SIMON GLASER ATTORNEYS Nov. 9, 1965 s. GLASER DEVICE FOR REJUVENATING GOLF BALLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15, 1961 INVENTOR.

SIMON GLASER ATTORNEYS- United States Patent Ofi ice 3,216,058 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 3,216,058 DEVICE FOR REJUVENATING GOLF BALLS Simon Glaser, 434 Wellesley Road, Philadelphia 19, Pa. Filed June 13, 1961, Ser. No. 116,820 10 Claims. (Cl. 181) This invention relates to an apparatus for rejuvenating used and aged golf balls.

A golf ball basically comprises an inner core of metal or liquid, an outer core of rubber strands wound in a spherical shape, and a plastic covering over the rubber strands. If the golf ball remains unused, the rubber immediately underneath the plastic surface beings to dry rot. The ball loses much of its resilience, and consequently loses flight distance. This same phenomenon of dry rot can be seen in old automobile tires.

In most cases the dry rot is uneven, which causes the ball to lose balance, and the direction of the ball in flight becomes unpredictable. This uneven decay is more prevalent when the surface of the ball is cut during use, leaving a portion of the core exposed to the air.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel apparatus for rejuvenating golf balls.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for restoring the resilience to used and aged golf balls.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus for restoring the balance of an old golf ball.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing an apparatus for kneading a golf ball comprising a plurality of rollers having concave surfaces adapted to receive a golf ball therebetween, means for rotating at least one of said rollers, and means for resiliently mounting at least one of said rollers.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the rollers of this'invention; and

FIG, 5 shows a modification of the latch means for closing the device.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawing wherein similiar reference characters refer to similar parts, a device for rejuvenating golf balls embodying the present invention is generally shown at in FIG. 1. Device 10 basically comprises a casing 12 having a lid 14 which is hinged at 16 to casing 12. Both casing 12 and lid 14 are generally of a parallelepiped shape, with each having an open face. The open faces of the casing and lid meet along a common plane 18.

Rotatively secured in lateral walls 20 of casing 12 is shaft 22. As seen in FIG. 2, this shaft supports roller 24 in casing 12. Shaft 22 is secured in place by rings 25 on the shaft. These rings have bearing faces adjacent casing 12.

Welded to the exterior of casing 12, at the rear thereof, are a pair of housings 26. These housings are of a generally parallelepiped shape. The faces of housings 26 adjacent casing 12 are open and cover vertical slots 28 in the casing (FIG. 3). Slidably and rotatably mounted in the two slots 28 is shaft 30. Shaft 30 supports a second roller 32 in casing 12.

As seen in FIG. 3, shaft 30 has end portions 34 of over the full width of the roller.

reduced diameter. These end portions are rotatively mounted in bearing blocks 36, which are slidably mounted in housings 26. The lower surface of each housing 26 is provided with an internally threaded cylindrical member 38. Threaded in said cylindrical member 38 is a screw 40 having a slotted face 42. The slot can be reached by a screw driver passing through hole 44 in housing 26. Welded to screw 40 is a fiat plate 46. A compression spring 48 is positioned between bearing block 36 and plate 46.

Rotatively mounted in lid 14 is a shaft 50. This shaft is secured in place by bearing rings 52 (FIG. 3), which are fixed to the shaft. A roller 54 is secured to shaft 50. One outer end of shaft 50, which is wholly outside of lid 14, is of square cross section, as at 56. The purpose of the squared end is to premit the shaft 50 to be secured for rotation in crank 60. Crank 60 basically comprises a shank portion 62, having square hole 64 at one end thereof. Shank portion 62 is bent outwardly at 66 to form arm 67, so that it will clear housing 26 when being turned. A handle 68 is rotatively mounted on pin 71 which is secured to the arm 67.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section of roller 32. It should be noted that rollers 24 and 54 have the same cross section. Each roller has a concave surface 69, extending The center part of each roller surface has two groups of intersecting parallel grooves cut therein, which results in the cross-hatch design 70. This grooving results in the formation of a plurality of raised, rounded portions 72 between the grooves, as shown in FIG. 4. The rollers are preferably made of steel, but other known materials can be used.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it is seen that casing 12 has a plurality of tabs 76 with holes therein secured to the bottom perimeter thereof. Bolts can be passed through the holes of tabs 76 when mounting the device on a table or workbench. A handle 78 is secured to the top of lid 14 for raising and lowering the lid. A clamp 80 is pivotally secured to the lid 14 by pin 82. The lower portion of clamp 80 has a hook portion 84 cut out therefrom, which hook portion engages pin 86 to hold the lid of the casing during use.

In use, the clamp 80 is released by pivoting it in the direction of arrow 90. Lid 14 is then pivoted in the direction of arrow 92 to open it. A golf ball, shown in phantom at in FIG. 2, is then inserted to rest between rollers 24 and 32. Lid 14 is closed and clamp 80 is hooked on pin 86. This brings rollers 24, 32 and 54 into pressure contact with the golf ball. The amount of pressure can be regulated by adjusting screws 40 which support springs 48. The ball is situated in approximately the centers of the concave-faced rollers.

The rejuvenation is carried out by turning crank 60 in a clockwise direction. This rotates roller 54, which in turn rotates golf ball 100. The rotating golf ball will in turn cause rollers 24 and 32 to rotate due to the combined effect of the pressure supplied by resiliently mounted roller 32 and the grooved surfaces of the rollers. In place of crack 60, roller 54 could be turned by an electric motor (not shown). It should also be noted that roller 24 is at a slightly higher elevation than roller 32. The purpose of this is to keep the golf ball from being propelled out of place by the rotation of the rollers.

Obviously, the rolls can be turned in the opposite directions by suitably changing their positions. Also, crank 60 can be arranged to positively rotate all three rollers by a suitable gearing mechanism.

The combined effect of the rotating rollers and the pressure applied performs a kneading action on the golf ball. It is this kneading action that alleviates any dry rot in the rubber of the ball thereby restoring the balance and resiliency to the ball. The amount of pressure applied to the ball can be as low as 5 pounds per square inch, but is preferably around 25 pounds per square inch. In one embodiment of the invention, the ball can be placed in device under a pressure of 25 pounds per square inch, at a roller speed of 200 rpm. for one minute. However, these conditions are not to be taken as limiting, since each of the conditions can be varied, so long as the desired kneading action is carried out.

The sizes of golf balls vary from country to country. The device of this invention can be readily adapted to different size golf balls by using clamp 110 of FIG. 5 in place of clamp 80. Clamp 110 basically comprises an upper male portion 112 and a lower female portion 114. Male portion 112 comprises a flat bar 116 which is pivoted to lid 14 by hinge 118. Wrapped around hinge 118 is a wire compression spring having dependent fingers 120 which engage the bar 116 and the lid 14. Secured to the front face of bar 112 is handle 122. Extending from the front face of bar 116, and integral therewith, are equally vertically spaced triangular projections 124. These projections have horizontal tops with inwardly inclined front faces.

Female portion 114 comprises a bar 130 which has a flange 132 extending inwardly at right angles thereto. Extending downwardly, and at right angles to flange 132 is a second flange 134, which is welded to the face of casing 12. The inner face of rod 130 contains equally vertically spaced cut-out portions 136. These portions conform in size, shape and spacing to triangular projections 124.

In use, the lid 14 is held in place by engaging projections 124 in holes 136. Due to the shape of the holes, the lid is held securely in place. Different size golf balls can be used by regulating the number of projections engaged in the holes. Also, clamp 110 allows the varying of the pressure on golf balls of the same size. Clamp 110is released by pushing handle 122 inwardly, which causes projections 124 tomove in the direction of arrow 140 and out of holes 136. The lid is then raised in the direction of arrow 142.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. A device for rejuvenating golf balls comprising three rollers having concave surfaces, means supporting said rollers with their axes parallel, with the support means of one of said rollers being pivotally mounted with respect to the support means of the other of said rollers, said rollers being positioned to describe a space between their surfaces which would accommodate a golf ball, whereby said rollers can be separated to an extent to allow the insertion of a golf ball among them and returned to a position wherein said golf ball will contact all of said rollers, each of said rollers having a plurality of grooves in the concave surface thereof, means for rotating at least one of said rollers, and means for resiliently supporting at least one of said rollers.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for resiliently supporting one roller comprises bearing blocks supporting the shaft of said roller and spring means supporting said bearing blocks.

3. The device of claim 2 including means to adjust the pressure of said spring means.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the elevations of the three rollers are staggered.

5. A device for rejuvenating golf balls comprising a casing, two rollers rotatably mounted in said casing, a hollow lid hingedly mounted on said casing, a roller rotatably mounted in said lid, each of said rollers having a concave surface, said rollers being positioned to describe a space between their surfaces which will accommodate a golf ball, said rollers being positioned with their axes parallel, clamping means for securing said lid to said casing, means for rotating one of said rollers, and means for resiliently mounting one of said rollers, whereby said lid can be pivoted around said hinge mounting, thereby permitting said rollers to be separated to an extent to allow the insertion of a golf ball among them and returned to a position wherein said golf ball will contact all of said rollers.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the surfaces of all of the rollers have a plurality of grooves therein.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein one of the rollers in the casing is at a higher elevation than the other.

8. The device of claim 5 wherein said clamping means comprises a first rod hinged to said lid, said rod having a plurality of equally vertically spaced projections on the outer face thereof, a second rod secured to and horizontally disposed from said casing, said second rod having a plurality of equally vertically spaced indentations, said indentations conforming in size, shape and spacing to the projections, and spring means urging said first rod away from said lid, whereby the lid can be secured to said casing by disposing the projections in the indentations.

9.The device of claim 5 herein the means for resiliently mounting one of said rollers comprises bearing blocks supporting the shaft of said resiliently mounted roller and spring means supporting said bearing blocks.

10. The device of claim 9 including means to adjust the pressure of said spring means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 885,131 4/08 Baker.

1,440,007 12/22 Freeman et al. 18-12 X 1,533,563 4/25 Maggi 264--36 1,771,099 7/30 Righetto 25-30 1,930,167 10/33 Goodwin 18-59 2,339,286 l/44 Moule 18-5 2,368,316 1/45 Meitner 18-11 XR 2,397,608 4/46 Johnson 18-9 XR 2,639,660 5/ 53 Sunderhauf et al. 18-19 2,671,260 3/54 Jessen et al.

2,729,855 1/56 Titus et al. 18-9 XR 2,787,024 4/57 Smith 18-59 2,807,047 9/57' Olson et al. 18-2 2,859,151 11/58 Usab et al. 18-26 X 2,867,001 1/59 Lewis et al 18-6 X 2,953,085 9/60 Cook 18-6 X 2,983,951 5/61 Russell 18-6 3,060,503 10/62 Eckert 18-11 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 416,643 9/ 34 Great Britain.

WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT F. WHITE, Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR REJUVENATING GOLF BALLS COMPRISING THREE ROLLERS HAVING CONCAVE SURFACES, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID ROLLERS WITH THEIR AXES PARALLEL, WITH THE SUPPORT MEANS OF ONE OF SAID ROLLERS BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED WITH RESPECT TO THE SUPPORT MEANS OF THE OTHER OF SAID ROLLERS, SAID ROLLERS BEING POSITIONED TO DESCRIBE A SPACE BETWEEN THEIR SURFACES WHICH WOULD ACCOMMODATE A GOLF BALL, WHEREBY SAID ROLLERS CAN BE SEPARATED TO AN EXTENT TO ALLOW THE INSERTION OF A GOLF BALL AMONG THEM AND RETURNED TO A POSITION WHEREIN SAID GOLF BALL WILL CONTACT ALL OF SAID ROLLERS, EACH OF SAID ROLLERS HAVING A PLURALITY OF GROOVES IN THE CONCAVE SURFACE THEREOF, MEANS FOR ROTATING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ROLLERS, AND MEANS FOR RESILIENTLY SUPPORTING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ROLLERS. 